Career Development
Whether you’re in need of resume writing assistance, career advice, or help with your job search, our in-house career and professional development team ensures students and alumni are provided with the strategies needed to attain their career goals.
As one of the few schools of social work to offer career and professional development services, we offer a myriad of programs that help our students and alumni nurture their skills and enhance their professional network.
Whether you are interested CEU workshops, virtual resources, career counseling sessions, or Dworak-Peck Connect, an online networking portal designed to help our Trojan Family cultivate meaningful relationships with peers and mentors, our school is here to provide you with useful and relevant tools to help you succeed in your career trajectory.
Licensure
If you are interested in pursuing licensure, we provide many resources to help you along this path. Becoming an Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) will allow you to practice independently, and it may also afford you more opportunities to supervise and mentor other social workers, manage agencies, provide consulting to businesses, schools and healthcare organizations, and serve as an expert witness during court cases.
The LCSW credential is one of several social work licenses granted by states nationwide, although the actual title may vary by state. An LCSW is a social work practitioner who has been approved by a state licensing board to provide comprehensive mental health services and assume greater responsibilities than a social worker who is not licensed. Aspiring LCSWs must generally earn a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree, complete additional coursework and clinical training, and pass licensure exams.
Whichever state you decide to work in as a social worker, you may want to obtain licensure. Learn about the requirements to earn a California LCSW license.
Licensure requirements for becoming an LCSW differ by state. Learn about the requirements to earn your LCSW license in other states.
Special alumni guests share their career development and job search expertise to help you stay up-to-date with your practice and grow your career.
Understanding the Three Areas of Social Work Practice
Micro-Level
The most common type of social work, micro-level work, involves direct interaction with clients in order to address individual needs ranging from housing and health care to financial planning. Individual and family counseling, as well as mental health and substance abuse treatment, fall under this category. Micro-level social work can have powerful, positive impacts on individual clients.
Mezzo-Level
Mezzo-level social work involves working with groups rather than individuals. Mezzo-level social work encompasses community organizing, school social work, as well as work within families and organizations. Mezzo-level social work provides a unique opportunity to create measurable institutional change.
Macro-Level
Macro-level social work involves large-scale advocacy that affects entire communities, states or countries. Macro social workers may be involved in policymaking, lobbying or organizing state- or nation-wide activism campaigns. Macro-level social work may be a good fit for those who are interested in advancing long-term, systemic change.
Learn More About Careers In Social Work
What do nurse practitioners do? Registered nurses looking to advance their careers and gain more autonomy may find a rewarding path in the Master of Science in Nursing program.
What do medical social workers do? Patients and their families rely on medical social workers to help them navigate life’s most challenging moments.
What do community organizers do? Mobilizing broad social change requires a community-focused, systemic approach—and a healthy dose of tenacity.
What do corporate social responsibility managers do? As consumers increasingly demand transparency around their favorite brands’ environmental and community impacts, corporate social responsibility initiatives have become central to many organizations’ core values.
Searching for Jobs Outside the Traditional Social Work Setting Nontraditional organizations are recognizing the value social workers bring to the workplace.
Should I Pursue a PhD in Social Work? Consider the benefits, challenges and potential career paths associated with a PhD program.
How to Prepare for a Clinical Social Work Job Interview Six effective techniques for acing any clinical social work job interview
How to Put Together a Nurse Practitioner Resume and Cover Letter These simple tips on building a standout nurse practitioner resume will make securing a new position a breeze.
Need Career Development Information?
Questions about licensure? Want to learn more about our CEU opportunities? Please contact the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work.